Kindred Spirits

by Tailkinker

This is a work of fan fiction based on the Harry Potter series and the Sailor Moon franchise created respectively by J.K. Rowling and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters and settings belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered as part of the official canon of either series.

A Nervous Prelude

Travelling by phoenix flame took some getting used to, but it was much more comfortable than using the floo. Dumbledore waited until Harry and Hotaru were steady on their feet, then released their arms.

"I do quite apologize, Mr Potter, Ms Tomoe, that we never needed to call upon either of you. However, I don't doubt that you're pleased with the outcome."

"Quite pleased," agreed Harry.

"I'm just glad he got a fair trial," added Hotaru. She glanced around the Headmaster's office, apparently fascinated by the variety of magical devices on the table.

"Indeed," said Dumbledore happily. "I always felt that he was a loyal and faithful man, and never understood how he could turn traitor." He chuckled. "Well, now we know: he didn't."

"Yes, Sir," said Harry with a smile.

"Well. There's little point in keeping it quiet. You can go ahead and tell your friends, but I expect it'll be all over tomorrow's Prophet." Dumbledore waved a hand through the air, as if conjuring a headline. "'Sirius Black Exonerated!'"

Reactions to the news varied. Many in Gryffindor wavered between twelve years' reinforcement of 'Sirius Black was Voldemort's Right Hand', and 'Gryffindors Rule!' To such people, Harry pointed out that the true villain, Peter Pettigrew, had also been a Gryffindor.

Hotaru reported that in Ravenclaw, most quietly listened to the evidence, then nodded and said, "Of course he's innocent." Except for Luna Lovegood, who insisted that Sirius was actually the lead singer of a rock band called the Hobgoblins.

Hufflepuffs simply chalked it up to a fair trial, presided over by one of their own—Isadora MacMillan, the Acting Chief Warlock for the case, had been a Hufflepuff, as was her grandson Ernie MacMillan. It was Ernie who filled Harry in on the opinion of the Sett, though he spent as much time boasting about his grandmother.

As for Slytherin, Draco reported that they simply decided that Sirius was a 'Blood Traitor'.

But within a week, all of this was forgotten, as the student body had fresh news to stir it up.

"I imagine you'll be asking Hotaru, then?" Hermione might have phrased it as a question, but Harry expected that she already knew the answer.

"Of course," he agreed. "Once I work up the courage, that is..."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You've leaped into battle with a giant basilisk, a dragon, a hundred Dementors, and the most terrible Dark Lord in recent memory. Twice, in fact, on that last point."

Harry was studying his fingers. "None of them could really hurt me," he mumbled.

"Then look at it from her point of view," said Hermione. "She's probably hoping that you will ask her, probably hoping you make it romantic...and terrified that you might not ask her."

That confused him. "But why wouldn't I ask her?"

"She'll be worried that she's not pretty enough, not smart enough, or not nice enough," said Hermione. "She'll be terrified that you'll ask someone else."

"I'd never!"

"You wouldn't want to leave her in such fear, would you?" pressed Hermione.

Harry jumped to his feet. "I'd better go ask her right away." He paused, however, before leaving. "By the way: Appealing to my weaknesses like that is low."

"But effective," said Hermione with a smile.

But all his courage seemed to have fled him when he approached Hotaru in the Great Hall. She was just finishing lunch, and was chatting animatedly with Luna Lovegood.

"Hello, Harry." He found that he rather missed the -kun, but so long as they were pretending to be ignorant of the Japanese language, the honorifics had to be laid aside. But still, Hotaru seemed quite happy to see him. Perhaps even expectant.

"Hi, Hotaru." He cleared his throat nervously. "So, um, you've heard about the ball?"

"Yes." Now she looked nervous.

"Would..." He cleared his throat again. "Would you do the honour—I mean...would you do me the honour of attending with me?"

She blushed, and smiled. "Yes, Harry. I'd be very happy to do so."

He let out the breath that he'd been holding, and she giggled.

"You didn't actually expect I'd say no, did you?"

He managed a grin. "Well, I was kinda worried that someone else had already asked you."

"Someone did," she said. "To him, I said no." She gave him a quick hug, then ran off.

Harry collapsed into a nearby seat.

"That looked tough."

He glanced up, to see Ami Mizuno hovering nearby. While the rest of her classmates seemed content to spend all their time at the Hufflepuff table, Ami was often seen at the Ravenclaw table. Given her intelligence, she likely found herself more at home there.

"Hotaru and I have been friends for several years," said Harry. "And we just started dating this year. Doesn't help my nerves, though," he admitted ruefully.

Regardless of what sort of things Mahoutokoro was really after at this tournament, he found it hard to dislike Ami.

"I was...wondering if I could ask you for small help," said the older girl shyly. "It's not about Tournament—"

"I need to apologize to you," said Harry quickly. "I knew what the first Task was going to be. And I was going to tell you, honest. But I...I got some really bad news that day, and I forgot all about it."

"That's all right, Harry," said Ami softly. "It was wonderful to see dragon up close like that." She drew in a breath. "But the help I need from you is...well, it's something I really have no experience with." She looked around, as though embarassed. "I...I need a date for the Ball. Because I'm a Champion, I have to open the Ball. But you know that."

"I just asked Hotaru—"

"I know," she said quickly. "I waited until I knew you had date. I didn't want to get between you and Hotaru. But...If you know someone who might..." She looked down.

"You know what?" said Harry. "I think I do know someone. He's quite clever, very nice, and very loyal. If you don't mind the fact that he's...kind of average-looking—"

"I certainly hope I can look past that," said Ami. Was it his imagination, or did she sound a touch frosty?

"Then you've already met him," continued Harry. "Neville Longbottom. He was paired with Hermione and I during the Herbology class you audited."

"Yes, I remember him." Ami smiled. "He's quite nice, and very knowledgeable." She paused. "But...I hope this is not...imposition? Could you ask him to ask me, please?" She blushed. "It's...not done, in Japan, for girl to ask boy."

Harry blinked at that. "Sure. But he's kinda shy. It might take some time to bring him around."

"Arigato." She bowed. "I mean...thank you."

"That's one Japanese word I know." He bowed back to her.

"I almost feel sorry for Ron," said Hotaru. She and Harry were seated at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the dinner service to start.

"Yeah," admitted Harry. "Though I'm not surprised he worked up the courage to ask Fleur to the ball. He's braver than he looks." He chuckled. "And at least we can't blame Fleur for her reaction."

"Stunned surprise isn't really a reaction," said Hotaru. "And at least he didn't throw up on her."

"At least he didn't throw up in front of her," amended Harry. "Though I bet Neville wishes he hadn't been in the bathroom just then."

"Harry." Hotaru nudged him, then looked pointedly across at the Hufflepuff table. Harry followed her gaze, and saw the Mahoutokoro Class Representative—"What was her name again?"

"Aino Minako," said Hotaru quietly, and Harry nodded.

The blonde girl sat down across from the two of them. "Hi there! How're you two doing?"

"Not too bad," said Harry. Some of his reserve must have shown in his face, as Minako rolled her eyes.

"All right, spill. Why have you two been so frosty towards us?"

"Your English is excellent," said Hotaru quietly. "You've even got a London accent."

"That's because I grew up in Brixton," said Minako. "Like you, I was raised in London. Unlike you, though, my family returned to Japan before I got a Hogwarts letter."

"That must have been difficult," said Harry.

"My Japanese wasn't very fluent, and I caught a lot of flak because of it," admitted Minako. "I tended to mangle Japanese idioms." She fingered her long blonde hair. "Also because of this. It's a mutation; we don't know why I'm a natural blonde." She leaned forward. "But you're trying to distract me. Why are you two so hostile towards us?"

Harry looked at Hotaru. They'd expected to be confronted about this at some point, and had a story ready for it. Hotaru nodded, and Harry turned back to Minako.

"Your Divination professor appeared at the Quidditch World Cup. She blasted some Death Eaters, but vanished before anybody could talk to her."

"You recognized her?" said Minako, clearly astonished.

"Green hair? You think your hair stands out." Harry leaned back. "She had some sort of magic disguising her, but when I saw the green hair, it's like I remembered exactly who she was."

"Oh, man." Minako jumped to her feet. "I gotta go...I'll talk to you later." She ran off, back towards the Hufflepuff table.

"That won't hold them long," whispered Hotaru.

"No," said Harry. "But hopefully, they'll be concentrating on me, not on you."